Envelop-moistener and the like.



BYRON D. BURDICK, OF WESTERLIC RHODE ISLAND.

ENVELOP-IVIOISTENER AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1 907.

Application filed December 8, 1905. $erial No, 291,000.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRON D. BURDIOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVesterly, in the county of WVashington and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Envelop-Moisteners and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stationery and more particularly to envelope moisteners and the like and it has for an object to provide a simple, durable and efficient device of this character which can be easily manipulated.

A further object of the invention is to provide-a device of the class mentioned embodying a pear-shaped liquid containing bulb with a distributing pad or sponge upon the smaller end and so arranged that the device must lay in a recumbent position with the pad always in contact with the liquid to remain moist and in condition for use but forming a pneumatic seal against the escape of the liquid.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be here: inafter fully described shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being under stood that changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details maybe made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view of the improved envelope moistener in side elevation and inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a view of the device in end elevation, showing a slightly modified form of bulb. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the pad retaining cap showing a slightly modified form of support ing flange.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw- 1ngs: y

In its preferred embodiment the improved envelope moistener forming the subject matter of this application comprises a liquidcontaining bulb 10 substantially pear-shaped or of the shape of the ordinary and well known incandescent electric light bulb. The neck or smaller end 11 of the bulb is provided with screw-threads 12 which may be integral with or secured upon the bulb in any approved manner.

Upon i116 screw threads 12 is disposed a cap comprising the screw-threaded sleeve 13 with a plane cylindrical continuation 14 with an outstanding flange 15 between and circumferentially larger than the sleeve and cylindrical portions.

Within the outer end of the cylinder is disposed a distributing pad 16 which may be of sponge or any approved material and retained by turning in the edge of the cylinder as at 17 and the edge may be serrated to form teeth 18. Between the end of the bulb and the pad is interposed an elastic gasket 19, so that when the cap is screwed upon the bulb the pad is clamped by the gasket which also produces a water-tight joint with the end of the bulb.

To prevent rolling the bulb may be polygonal in transverse section, as shown at 20 in Fig. 3, or the bulb may be circular, and the flange on the cap polygonal as at 21 in Fig. 4.

When in use the bulb will be grasped in the hand and the distributing pad moved over the surface to be treated thus distributing the contained liquid. When not in use the device lays in a recumbent position as shown in Fig. 1 and rolling is prevented by the polygonal formation of the bulb or flange.

It is obvious that when the bulb rests in its normal position the liquid contained therein will contact with the sponge so as to keep it moist.

1 While this device has been described as an envelope moistener it will be understood that if desired mucilage or other liquid may be contained therein instead of water ordinarily employed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is A device of the character described comprising a bulb having an externally screw threaded neck and an inwardly extending circular flange at the outer end of the neck, an imperforate elastic gasket seated upon the flange and supported thereby throughout its Width, a threaded sleeve detachably engaging the threaded portion of the neck, an angular polygonal flange integral with the sleeve and constituting a support to prevent In testimony that I claim the foregoing as rotation of the bulb, a cylindrical extension my own, I have hereto affixed my signature 1o projecting beyond the flange and adapted to in the presence of two Witnesses: t snugly around the gasket, inwardly ex- 5 tending teeth upon the outer end of said ex- BYRON BURDIOK' tension and dis osed in a plane parallel With Witnesses: the gasket, an a pad engaged by the teeth HERBERT W. RATHBUN,

and held thereby upon the gasket. MARY P. SLYVER. 

